Fishing reel



Sept. 6, 1938.

' y .20, l" N138/ 136 qui! mlm

M4 /ua e :,-L/m

48 f/l/i/l/ z :J/ -Q '5 L i 14a E 15E 146 9 150 96 94 50` l 1E L 18 IU/Uenuoi n J 011,11 U. Schafer 12,6 l BymwMMA//ZQ Sept. 6, 1938. J. v.. sc'HAFER `FISHING4 REEL Filed' Feb. 4, 1955 L T S M 5 O K tfwwq R a 1 CM1 e T m .nu fw 1 In? m ,E /IM W m Sept. 6, 1938. .1. v. scHAr-ER 2,129,386 y FISHING REEL 'Filed Feb. 4, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. l6, 1938. J. v. scHAFER 2,129,385 v FISHING REEL Filed Feb. 4, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l EEE-lk s wcwmuz `l/atented Sept. 6,' 1938 l d UNITED 'STATES PATENT oFFlcE V FISHING naar. John- V. Schafenronson, Mich., assigner to Bronson Reel Company,

Bronson, Mich., a

corporation of'Mlchigan Application February d, 1935, Serial No. 4,731

zt claims.

10 In theV accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a reel according to the invention; 1

Figure 2 is a-section on line 2-2 of Figure 1; c Figure 3 is a section of the clutch-actuating mechanism indicating an alternative arrange-- ment for actuating the clutch;

Figure 4 is a section through the friction clutch; Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the clutch-engaging portion of the spool shaft;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the clutchvactuating lever;

Figure 7 is a section similar to Figure 3 indicating another alternative actuating mechanism; Figure 'la is a detail section on line 'ia-'ia of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of a blank from which the drive pinion of Figure 1 is to-he formed; Figures 9 and 10 are similar views of successive stages in the manufacture of the clutch; Figure l1 is a side elevation` of the ed clutch; y

Figure i2 is an enlarged detail indicating the clearances available in shifting such a clutch;

Figure 13 is a section of a. simplified friction mechanism; y l

Figure l-i is a section on line ll-Il of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a section on line IB-i of Figure 14;

' 40 Figure 16 is an end view of the closure nut;

Figures 17 land 18 are sections on line |1-I1 of rieure 16, showing the parts m different positions; f

Figures 19 and 20 are fragmentary sections similar' to .Figure 13 showing alternative spring arrangements; and

- Figure 21 is a planl view of the pinion of Figure 1l. A

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration in Figure 1,A the spoolshaft I0 5 carries the rigidly assembled sleeve .I 2 and flanges I4 and-is journaled at its ends in bearings I6 and I8 in the tail plate 20 and headplate 22, respectively. The crank 24 is clamped against rotation on a polygonal portion 26 of the tubular drive (ci. zie-sis) I shaft 2t. The bridge 3@ isfastened byvbolts 32 (see Figure 2) to the head plate, and carries the stud M which forms the supporting pintle for the shaft it. The shaft 28 is held against axial move- A ment by a retaining screw 36, and the handle 5 clamping nut 38 is in the form of a bonnet, housing and protecting the retaining screw 36.' The pawl d0 (see Figure 2) is resiliently pressed by the spring it into engagement with ratchet teeth dt on the periphery of the flange or ratchet wheel n@ t6 at the butt of the shaft 28, and operates to Vprevent rotation of. the shaft except in the direction oi reeling in. The pawl mi is removably slipped in place on the pawl stud ti (see Figures 14 and 15), carried vby the bridge 3h. The spring w l2 is permanently'assembled on the bridge 311 by a fastening screw til, but the screw l5 is not required to function as the sole support and guidance for'the spring. An intermediate portion of the spring encircles the adjacent bolt 32. 20 When the bridge is fastened in place, thehead plate @i includes a portion it (Figure 15) whichV holds the pawl against slipping off the stud, and the screw i5 against workingloose.

Drag A 25 Y The drive from the shaft 28 to the-spool shaft iii is through the gear t8 and pinion 50. Between the gear t8 and the shaft 28 I provide adjustable friction means tending to force the gear and 30 shaft to rotate together. The web of the gear 18 is chambered at 52 to receive a Afriction washer 54 lying between the gear web and the flange 46. The bottom of the chamber 52 is made irregular as by 4striking with a center punch to form surface 35 irregularities indicated at 56. This insures that the friction surface will be that between the washer 5t andthe flange 46.

In the opposite side of the web is formed a deeper annular chamber at 58. Inside this chamber are nested-first, a leather washersl; second, a metal washer, 62; third, another leather washer 6I; and fourth, a keyed metal washerl 66. The washer 66 hasradial lugs projecting inwardly at 88 to enter notches at 10 in the hub of the gear 48, and this compels the washer 66 to rotate with the gear I8. Above the washer 66 I position a leather friction washer 12 which may be vcornpressed between the washer 66, which turns with the gear 48, and the washer 14 which abuts the 5() vflat sides 16 on the shaft 28 and turns with the with nicety,l I interpo'se spring means between the flange 80 and the washer 14. In Figure 4 I have illustrated a conical spring washer 84 of spring metal with its outer edge bearing against the washer-314. Between the flange 88- and the spring 84 I interpose a' much more flex'- ible spring 88 in the form of the ordinary split spring, or lock, washer.l When the sleeve is pressed down enough to ilex the spring 84, the spring 88 is nattened out completely, but backingo!! `the -sleeve to relieve spring 84 brings spring 88 into action. Thus two distinctly different ranges of` sensitivity are provided.

-The washers nested between thewasher 88 and the gear web do not operate as friction washers,

but form a cushion to render less abrupttheseizure of thefriction washers when the star wheel is actuated, especially under heavy load.

As the parts arekept well oiled, it is probable that this action results partly from the compres.-

sibility of the 'leather washers themselves. and

' partly from theinilltration by capillary action l of illms of oil between the washers when they conical sheet are not under a compression load-which illrns of oil work out only graduallywhen the load is put on.- I ilnd that during a rapid runby a fish. the

effective friction in such a clutch tends to decrease somewhat, a nd to that extent the loadsensitive set o'f `washcrs 8.0. 82, 84. compensates for the decrease in the diameter line wound on the spool.

In the simplifica construction c: sicure 1s. Athe washers 80, 822 84, and 88 'are simply omitted and the friction washer 12 is laid directly Meinst the web of the gear. In Figure 19 an .additional the first stage is up to the flattening of spring 88, the second stage is until the spring 84 is about half flat and further force begins to `flatten spring 88 to. introduce a third stage.

In Figure 20 the smaller washer isaat one I and the'washer4 88 carries the loadin from the inner edge of the spring 88 to the inner edge of the spring 84.l In thisembodiment, usin'g the same parts as in Figure 19 except for subst1tut' ing the flat washer 80 for the conical one 88, substantially lower forces are available with corre.

spondingly better control than in ,Figure 18, during'the second stage.

Free

The drive pinion 80 has a cylindrical bearing. at 82 on the spool shaft 'I0and is axially mov- A. able from the position of Figure 1. with the spool free to rotate independent of the handle. to the position of Figure 3. The shaft i has a shoulder at 84 formedby reducing the diameter of the shaft, and this shoulder is milled away at 88 and on the opposite side at 88. The oppositely` extending ends of' the shoulder 84 function as clutch teeth to engage the female clutch parts formed in the pinion 80. Corresponding parts are formed in thc drive pinion se except that the segmental portions |08 are relieved as clearly indicated in Figures 9 and 10,' leaving the full face |04 of the jaw available for drivingf'in the direction of reeling in. but lowering the end ofthe jaw back of the advancingface. Referring of the mass ofl vspring washer 88 is laid between] spring 88 and spring 84. /In this construction to Figure l0, the pocket |82 contains two clutch segments |08 having front faces of full height at |84 and rear faces approximately half as high at I I8. The inclined end surface of the segment |88 Ais shown at. |08 in Figures 9 and 10. This inclined endsurface rides on the adjacent abutting portion of the shoulder 84 of Figure 5 and lets the gear move half way in before the full height front face |04 strikes the milled surface 88 of Figure 5.

The mechanism I have illustrated for shifting the drive pinion into and out of clutching engagement comprises an actuating lever |08 floating on a shaft ||0 journaled in the head plate 22.

The shaft ||0 is provided with external actuating means in the form ofan arm 2 carrying an actuating handle ||4 and engaging a i'lat por,- tion at ||8 on the shaft i|0 and fastened in place by retaining screw ||8. The free end of the op-g erating lever |08-lies between shoulders |20 on the headpla and has depending ears |22 to insure continued engagement with the shoulders throughout the range of movement cf the lever um.

'Ihe end of the lever terminates in toes |24 entering a peripheral groovelat |28 in the drive pinion. i

The lever |08 is apertured to receive the shaft ||0 with clearance to permit tipping of the lever. and is biased toward the position of clutching engagement by a'coiled spring |28 having coils of decreasing diameter. The final coil of the spring |28 is brought out radially in an arm |88 underlying the lever remote from the shaft l0 to press its free end away fronrthe head 22.

Rigid with theA shaft ||0 is an actuating cam in the form ofa plate |8| having a fiat portion adapted to hold the lever in the position of Figure 1 and acamming portion |82 adapted to ride up over a button |24 on the adjacent surface of the lever |08 and press the lever down. In the` embodiment of Figure l, the button |84 is formed by striking up the metal of which the lever |08 is made. and the opposite side of the same protubery.ance is a concavity positioned to receive the end of the spring |28. The shaft ||0 is provided with a flange |88 engaging the head 22 to hold t the shaft against axial movement. Between the spring |28 and the lever |08 I position a thin washer |88 of fairly large diameter to form an abutment for the-central portion of the 'spring |28. f

In Figure 3 the shaft .|40 differs from shaft ||0 in having a large integral flange |42 at the bottom of a flat pocket in the head plate |44. The same arm |3| is employedbut the lever |48 is pressed away from the head plate by two springs, a helicospiral spring |48 encircling the shaft |40 and a smaller `helical spring |50 pressing against the extending "reach of the arm. The contact button for the cam is a rivet |52 which also guides the spring |80.

`In Figure 7 the shaft |84l is axially slidable but not rotatable inthe head |88 and is urged away I from the head by two or more small helical springs |88. Pins ill in guide holes |13 restrain theshaft fromrotating (see Figure 7a). Ac-

s cordingly, it may carry a clutch shifting arm |80 having a rigid mounting at |82 at the end of the shaft |84. The actuating arm |84 encircles the f outer end of the shaft |54 which carries a pin |88 projecting radially outward into a cam slot |88.V In the position illustrated the clutch. pinion is out ofengagement with the clutch teeth 98.

but movement of the handle |10` toward the obu f cylindrical portion of this die is slightly larger I -Figure 10. Preferably in the same screw machine ,isasee server will. move the slot |88 the pin |88 and cation, readily adapt the same for use under permit the springs 58 to throwL the clutch in.

Pinion making In manufacturing the clutch pinion 58 I first driii'and bevel the corners of a suitable lblank |12, as clearly shown in Figure 8. This blank is then placed in a punch press and changed to the shape of Figure I9 in a single'operation. The

. male die forms the cylindrical `pocket at |82 and vthe segmental clutch jaws with full front faces at- |04 and half height rear facesat |88.A The than the original bore 14 and makestheenlargement'shown at |18.' The next operationis to. enlarge the bore l|14 to aflnal diameter a trifle larger than the bore |18, as indicatedat I'Il in the butt pocket |88 is fashioned and the annular groove |28 with short `straight; sides at |82 and longer inclined sides at |84.

A plurality of blanks finished as in Figure 10 may now be assembled on a single shaft or arbor,

at |88 and also at |88. vThese are shown on an f enlarged scale in Figure 12, and it will be noted that the prongs |24 used to shift the clutch gear act against the shoulders |82, and in no position do they come close enough to the burrs |86 Ito necessitate any removal or polishing away of the burrs. Similarly, it will be obviousin Figures 1.

3, and 7, that the similar burrs at |88 lie where they Awill never get in the' way of any other moving part, and thereforeQneed not be removed.

- Uilina Particularly to insurey maximum effectiveness for the washers 80, 62, and 84, itis desirable to keep the upper Apocket of the gear 48 well lubricated.

Referring to Figures 13 and 16 .to 18, the nut 88 is formed with an internal chamber at |88 covered by the web |92, having a central aperture |8|. A shallow circular depression in the outer end face Treceives the fixed plate |84 which is struck up to house the slide |86 between itself and the web |82. 'I'he plate |94 is permanently fastened by swedg ing ine'the edges of the depression at E98.- The slide |96 is apertured at 200, and the plate |98 has a central aperture 202. The slide ,icarries an upturned actuating finger 284 moving in a slot 206 inthe plate |84. In Figure 17 the holes 288 and 202 are out of registerand oil will be rei kinto the space around the spring 88. Referring to Figure 1 it vwill be noted that I have provided both bearings I8 and i8 with oii receiving means identical with that ,for nut 88.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing ywill so fully explain .my invention that others may, by

applying knowledge current at the time of applivarious conditions of service.

I claim:

' 1. In a fishing reel, in combination, a spooll shaft, and a. drive pinion axiauy movable onsaid shaft: said shaft and pinion having-interengaging -saidciutch teeth having driving faces positioned' to. abut lfor driving the spool in the direction of reeling in. said teeth having also surfaces for axial abutment, certain of said axial abutment surfaces being inclined to let the pinion move part way in laxially before the parts reach the positionwhere said driving faces come into operative engagement. and means rendered operative by completion of the inward axial movementfor coupling the parts together'` completely.

l2. In a ilslnng reel, in combination, a spool, a

rigid frame rotatably supporting said' spool and including an end plate, a clutch member adjacent said end plate and movable parallel to the spool axis, and manual means for actuating said clutch member, said manual means including a clutch shifting lever fulcrumed at one end, and engaging the clutch at its other end, spring means pressing on said leverl intermediate its ends and tending to move the clutch into engagement, and manually actuated cani means positioned to engage said lever at substantially the same point as said spring means and move the 'clutch' out of engagement,

said cam means includinga cam element, a rotaty able shaft carrying said element and journaled in and extending through said end plate, and a handle on the externally projectingA end of said shaft, said handle lying close against .said end plate and moving parallel thereto, said rotatable shaft extending through oneend of said clutchshifting lever with a loose iit, and constituting the .ful'cx'um for said lever.

' 3. In a fishing reel, in combination, a spool, a rigid frame rotatably supporting said spool and including an end plate, a clutch member adjacent said end plate and movable parallel to the spool axis, and manual means for actuating ,said clutch vlmember, said manual means-including a clutch means including a cam element, 'a rotatable shaft carrying said element and journaled in and ex' tending through said end plate, and a handle onV the externally projecting end of said shaft,v said handle lying close against said end plate and moving parallel thereto, said rotatable shaft extending through one end of said clutch-shifting lever with a loose t, and constituting the fulcrum for said lever. t

4. In a fishing reel, in combination', a spool, a

rigid frame rotatably supporting said spool and vincluding an end plate, a clutch member adjacent said end plate and movable parallel to the spool axis, and'manual means for actuating said clutch member, said'manual meansjincluding a clutch .shifting lever fulcrumed at one end, spring means kpressing on said leverand tending to move the clutch into engagement, and manually actuated cam'meansv positioned to engage said lever and move the clutch out of engagement.; said cam means including a cam element, a rotatable shaft carrying said element and journaled in and extending through saidend plate, and a handle on tl externally projecting end ofsaid shaft, said-1g rotatable shaft extending through one end ofsaid clutch-shifting lever with a loose nt, and constituting the fulcrum for said lever.

5. In' a fishing reel, in combination: a `drive shaft; a. gear rotatable on said drive shaft; friction means acting 'between said shaft and said gear and tending to cause said gear and shaft to turn together; and two different instrumentalities affecting the amount of said friction; said instru-` mentalities comprising a ilrst adjustable manual means for compressing said friction :means to aifect the amount of friction; and a second automatic load-sensitive means operating responsive' to relative. rotationI of said gear and said shaft, for reducing saidhfriction cumulatively as relative rotation occurs; both said instrumentalities operating on said friction means at all times, whereby the effective action of said friction means represents the sum of the actions .that would result from either instrumentality operating alone; said automatic load-sensitive means comprising an axially acting cushioning instrumentality.

6. In a ilshingreel, in combination: a drive shaft; a gear rotatable on said drive shaft; friction means acting between said shaft and said gear and tending to cause said gear and shaft to turntogether; and two different instrumentalities affecting the amount of Vsaid friction; said instrumentalities comprising a first4 adjustable manual means for compressing said friction means to aect the amount of friction; and a second automaticload-sensitive means operatingigspon'sive to relative rotation of said gear and said shaft, for reducing said friction cumulatively as relative rotation occurs; both said instrumentalities operating on said friction means at all times, whereby the effective action of said friction means represents the sum of the actions that would result from either instrumentality operat ing alone.

7. In a fishing reel, in combination, a bridge member; a stud rigidly mounted on said bridge member; an annular drive shaft rotatably mounted on said stud; a ratchet wheel on the end of said shaft adjacent said bridge; a pawl stud ony saidbridge; a pawl removably pivoted on said stud and adapted to prevent rotation of said shaft in the direction of reeling out; a spring to urge said pawl into engagement with s aid ratchet; a drive gear above said ratchet wheel havingja portion overlying the end of said pawl; and asupporting head having a recessshaped to receive said pawl and restrain therbutt of said pawl fromvslipping 03 its stud.

8. In a fishing reel, in combination, a bridge member; a studv rigidly mounted on said bridge member; anl annular drive shaft rotatably mounted on said stud; a ratchet wheel on the end of apertured toreceive fastening means. said spring having an intermediate portion positioned adjasaid shaft adjacent saidbridge: a pawl stud on said bridge; a pawl removably pivoted on Asaid stud and adapted to prevent rotation of said shaft in the direction of reeling out; a spring having one end anchored to said bridle. and the other end positioned to urge said pawl into engagement with said ratchet. saidy bridge being cent said aperture and adapted. to encircle .and be guided by a fastening means passing throlmh said aperture; a drive gear above said ratchet wheel having a rim portion overlying the. end of said pawl, anda web portion overlying said Y ratchethwheel; and a supporting head having a recess toreceive sald pawl and restrain' butt or said pawl rromsuppins on' its nud.

9. In a fishing reel, in combination, a bridge member; a stud rigidly mounted on said bridge member; an annular drive shaft rotatably mounted on said stud; a ratchet wheel on the end of said shaft adjacent said bridge; a pawl stud onl said bridge, a pawl removably pivotedgon said stud and adapted to prevent rotation of said shaft in the direction of reeling out; -and a bridgesupporting head having a recess shaped toreceive l said pawl and restrain the butt of said pawl from v slipping od its stud.

10; In a fishing reel, in combination, a bridge member; a stud rigidly mounted on said bridge member; an annular drive shaft rotatably mountedl on said stud; a ratchet wheel on the end of said shaft adjacent said bridge; a pawl-stud on said bridge;.a pawl removably'pivoted on said stud and adapted to prevent rotation. of said shaft in the direction of reeling out; and a bridge support including a portion lying adjacent the end of vsaid pawl stud and preventing said pawl from slipping off said stud.

11. In a fishing reel, in combination, a bridge member; a stud rigidly mounted on said bridge member; an annular drive shaft rotatably mountedon said stud; a ratchet vWheel on the end of said shaft adjacent said bridge; a pawl stud on' upper washer, said parts shaped to define an oil passage for delivering oil primarily to said space, subject to capillary see e to both surfaces of both washers.

12. rn s mung reel, in combination, s snag@ member; a stud rigidly'mounted on said bridge member; an annular drive shaft rotatably mounted on said stud; a ratchet wheel on the end of said shaft adjacent said bridge; a pawl stud on said bridge; a pawl removably pivotedv on said stud and adapted to prevantrotation of saidshaft in the direction of reeling out; a -drive gear above said ratchet wheel; a lower annular friction washer between said gear and said ratchet wheel;

an upper annular friction washer above said gear; means rotating with saidshaft andincluding said drive said gear by friction or absorb energy when slippage occurs, said -means including parts ing externally applied oil chiefly toa point above and adjacent to said upper annular washer, subjectto capillary seepage to both surfaces of both washers.

13. In a fishing reel,fin combination: a bridge y member; a stud rigidly mountedon said bridge member; an annular drive shaft rotatably mounted von 'said stud; a ratchet wheel on the end of said shaft adjacent said bridge; a pawl stud on ratchet. wheel, for compressing said washers to 1 shaped to define an oilpassageway for deliversaid bridge; a pawl removably pivoted on said' 'stud and adapted to preventrotation of said shaft in the direction of reeling out; a spring having one end anchored to said bridge. and thel other end positioned to urge said pawl into engagement with said ratchet, said bridge being apertured to receive fastening means, said spring having an intermediate portion positioned adjacent said aperture and adapted to encircle and be guided ture; la drive gear above said ratchet wheel having a rim portion overlying the end of -said pawl,A

" and a web portion overlying said ratchet wheel;

' threaded on-'said shaft for forcing said thrust" 10 a lower annular friction washer between said web and saidratchet wheel; an upper annular friction washer above said web; a'thrust sleeve above said-upper annular friction washer; a starwheel sleeve towardrsaid vfriction washers; relatively stiff resilientmeans below said thrust sleeve and carrying the thrust, forjrendering the gripping action of said friction discs gradual; loadsensitive means depending on the presence of lubricant for operation, below said thrust sleeve and subject to the-thrust thereof, for lreducing the effective friction cumulatively as lrotation continues; relatively wealrfresilient means normally entirely compressed by said thrust sleeve but tending to expand and prevent looseness when said thrust sleeve is backed away beyond the expansion limit of said relatively stid resilient means; a crank fixed 'on said; shaft 'above said star wheel; a fastening nut clamping -said crankA in place, said fastening nut having an oil-receiving opening thereinf, said stud and shaft being I shaped to define oil passagewayspermitting oil to flow past said crank, down inside said shaft,

and radially out adjacent said resilient means and said load sensitlve'means, to lubricate the same.

14. In a fishing reel, in` combination: a drive' member; a stud rigidly mounted on said bridge member; an annular drive shaft rotatably mounted on said stud; an annular ange on the end of said shaft adjacent said bridge; a drive gear having a web overlying said flange; a lower annular friction washer between said web and said flange; an upper annular friction washer above said web; a thrust sleeve'above said upper annular friction washer; manual adjustment means on said shaft for forcing said thrust sleeve toward said friction washers; relatively stiff `resilient means below said i thrust sleeve andcarrying the thrust for rendering the gripping action of said friction discs gradual; load-sensitive means depending on the presence of lubricant for operation, belowsald thrust sleeve and subject to the thrust thereof,

vfor reducing the effective friction cumulativelyl as rotation continues; relatively weak Vresilient means normally entirely compressed by said thrust sleeve but tending to expandf'and prevent looseness when-:said thrust sleeve isibacked away beyond the expansion limit of said relatively still' resilient means; a crank fixed on said shaftabove said adjustment mea-ns, a fastening nutvclamping said crank in place, said fastening nut having an -oil-receiving'opening therein, said stud and shaft being shaped to define oil passageways permitting oil to flow past said crank, down inside vsaid shaft,A

and radially out adjacent said resilient means and said load-sensitive means, to lubric'ate thesame.

'15. In a fishing reel, incombinatlon, a bridge member; a stud rigidlymounted on said bridge member; an' annular drive shaft rotatably Vmounted on said stud; an annular flange onthe end -of said shaft-adjacent 4said bridge; a 4drive gear -having a web portion overlying said flange; a lower'annular friction washer-between said Vweb and said ange; anupper annular friction washer above said web; a .thrustjsleeve above said upper annular friction washer; manual adjust- 'ement means on said shaft for forcing said thrust sleeve toward said friction washers; resilient 76 means below said thrust sleeve and carrying the thrust-for rendering the gripping action of said .Y

thrust thereof, for reducing vthe elective friction.

cumulatively as rotation continues; a crank fixed on said shaft above said adjustment means; a

fastening nut clamping said crank in-plaoe; said fastening nut having an oil receiving opening therein, said stud and shaft' beingshaped to define oilpassageways permitting oil to flow past saidcrank, down inside said shaft, and radially out adjacent said resilient means and said load sensitive means, to lubricate the same.

16. In a fishing reel, in combination, a bridge member; a stud rigidly mounted on said bridge member; an annulardrive shaft' rotatably mounted on said stud; an annular flange on the end of said shaft adjacent said bridge; a drive gear having a web portion overlying said flange; a lower friction washer between said web and said flange; an upper annular friction washer above said web; a. thrust sleeve above said upper annular friction -washer; manual adjustment means threaded on said shaft for forcing said thrustsleeve 'toward said `friction washers; and resilient means ,below said thrust sleeve and carrying the thrustior rendering the gripping actionof .said friction -discs gradual, said -resillent meansv including a plurality fof? resilient members of different stiffness arrangedto act successively as the sleeve is forced down.

`17. In a fishing reel, in combination, a bridge member; a stud rigidly mounted on said bridge member; an annular drive shaft rotatably mounted on said stud; an annular flange on the end of said shaft adjacent said bridge; a drive gear having a Web portion overlying said flange; a lower friction Washer between said webfand said flange: an upper annular friction washer above said web; a thrust sleeve above said upper an- `nular friction washer; manual adjustment means threaded on said shaft for forcing said thrust y sleeve toward said friction washers; and resilient l ed on said stud; an annular flange on the end of said shaft adjacent said bridge; a `drive gear having a web portion overlying said-flange; a

lower friction washer between said web and said lflange; ari-.upper annular friction washer'above said web; a lthrust sleeve above said upper an- A nular friction washer; manual adjustment means threaded on said shaft for forcing said thrust sleeve toward said friction washers; and resilient :means below saidv thrust sleeve andcarrying the thrust for rendering the gripping action of. said friction discs graduaLsaid resilient means including a large conical washer, and a smaller fiat. washer concentric l.therewith and transmitting sleeve thrust thereto. l 19. In a fishing reel, in combination, a bridge member; a stud rigidly mounted on said bridge member; an annular drive shaft rotatably mountmember; an annular drive shaft rotatably mount- "l Ahaving a web portion overlying said flange; a f lower friction washer between said web and said flange; an upper annular friction washer above said web; a thrust sleeve above said upper annular friction washer; manual adjustment means threaded on said shaft forforcing said thrust sleeve toward said frictionwashers; and resilient l means below said thrust sleeve and carrying the thrust for rendering the gripping action of said friction discs gradual, said resilient means inV cluding a large conical washer, land-a. smaller conical washer overlying and reinfoxcing'ihe in ner portion of the large washer.

20. In a fishing reel, in combination: a crank; l'

:,is'asss a spool; a frame supporting said crank and spool:

a .transmission including friction drive means resilient members act successively as the load is i increased.

. y v JOHN im 

